New Delhi/Kolkata, March 5 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) took a dig at Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee's decision not to contest the assembly poll in West Bengal, saying it exposed "her weakness".

"If the Trinamool leader says she cannot contest from a constituency, then she is reflecting her weakness," politburo member Sitaram Yechury told media persons on the sidelines of a two-day meeting of the party's central committee.

"The role of a leader should be to contest on his own, win his own seat and lead the party to victory in the entire state," Yechury said, commenting on Banerjee's announcement.

The two-day central committee meeting of CPI-M, which concluded Saturday, discussed the party's electoral strategy for West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry that are going to polls in April-May.

A Trinamool leader later countered Yechury's allegation, saying: "He (Yechury) has no right to criticise Banerjee as he himself has never contested a direct election."

Trinamool Congress leader Subrata Mukherjee told reporters in Kolkata: "She will campaign for us extensively and it will create problems for CPI-M. That is why they are saying all those things. There is a provision in the constitution for getting elected within six months of government formation."

While declaring that she would not be contesting assembly polls, Banerjee had said Friday that she could not be identified with just one constituency as she had to see the interest of the entire state.

The West Bengal elections are to be held in six phases between April 8 and May 10.